Waste spill at protected Tañon Strait widens
BACOLOD CITY—The area at the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape polluted by the wastewater spill caused by a breached lagoon of a distillery company has increased to about 3,000 hectares, from the initial estimated 400-hectare affected site, the Environment Management Bureau-Negros Island Region (EMB-NIR) reported.
This developed as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Central Visayas (BFAR-7) has advised against collecting and consuming dead fish and other aquatic organisms from the affected coastal waters off Bais City and Manjuyod town in Negros Oriental.
Vicente Losbañes, EMB-NIR acting director, said that a boat survey conducted on Thursday of the strait’s discolored waters determined the increase in the affected area.
The death of fish and other marine life has occurred mostly close to the shorelines of Bais City and Manjuyod, he said.
The livelihoods of residents in 17 barangays in Bais and Manjuyod have been affected, he added.
A collapsed wall of the 20-hectare waste water lagoon of the Universal Robina Corp. Bais Distillery, which produces ethanol from molasses, on Sunday triggered the massive spill into the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS).
The company, in a statement, said the collapse was due to earthquake-induced cracks exacerbated by heavy rains on Sunday. It assured it would double down on containing the spill.
Economic impact
The Negros Oriental Provincial Board, on Friday, convened an emergency hearing to determine how to contain the spill.
Glynda Descuatan, vice chair of the Negros Oriental Tourism Council, expressed deep concern over the environmental and economic damage, noting its particular effect on tourism, with numerous dolphin-watching and White Sandbar tours along Tañon Strait cancelled.
Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria assured the provincial government would provide assistance to affected families and committed the province’s full support in rehabilitation efforts , said a post on the Negros Oriental Facebook page.
His administration committed to ensuring accountability and swift action from all involved parties to restore both community welfare and environmental integrity, the statement added.
Health precaution
The advisory against consumption of fish gathered from the affected area is a health precaution, as the dead aquatic life may contain harmful pathogens, chemicals, and pollutants that pose risks to human health, said BFAR Central Visayas Regional Director Mario Ruinata.
“(Amid) concerns about possible health risks from eating contaminated seafood, the public is advised to refrain from fishing, collecting, and gathering aquatic organisms, such as but not limited to finfish, crustaceans, and seaweeds, in the affected areas,” said Ruinata.
He also noted that concerned authorities are actively working to resolve the issue.
Bais City officials, led by Mayor Luigi Marcel T. Goñi, has asked URC in a meeting on Wednesday to collect the dead fish and other aquaculture affected in the North Bais Bay.
The ten Bais coastal barangays affected by the spill were Tamisu, Katacgahan, Biñohon, San Isidro, Tangculogan, Talungon, Olympia, Okiot, Capiñahan, and Looc.
URC has since undertaken rehabilitation of the affected lagoon and has committed to provide financial assistance to the affected fisherfolk from both Bais City and Manjuyod, the city government Bais said in a Facebook post.
In a statement released on Tuesday, URC Bais Distillery said that multi-sectoral efforts were under way to contain the wastewater spillage from a breach in their lagoon wall that was caused by “earthquake-induced cracks, exacerbated by unexpected continuous heavy rains the past few days”.
URC also said they were closely collaborating with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for immediate containment, proper cleanup, and full compliance with environmental standards.
